Vote in the 2011 Limelight Awards... You could win a prize of your own!

Have your say and tell us who you think delivered the most memorable performances of 2011.

Here at Limelight we have the great privilege of writing about classical music day in, day out. While we're grateful to witness and share every moment of artistry on offer from our homegrown and visiting international musicians, there's always another concert to attend the following night, and time marches on.

And so it is with great pleasure that we launch the 2011 Limelight Awards, giving Australian concert-goers the chance to look back on the past year (1 September 2010 – 1 September 2011) and celebrate the recitals, operas, recordings and music personalities that made us sit bolt upright and take notice. What, for you, were the most powerful music experiences of the year; the ones you couldn't wait to tell friends about or that changed your perspective on a composer or work? Limelight contributors and ABC Classic FM presenters have put their heads together to choose five nominees for each of the 12 categories.

Public voting for the 2011 Limelight Awards is now open, so be sure to let us know who you think deserves to take home the gong in each section. This year, we have introduced the new category of Best Performance in an Opera. We have also kept our traditional Readers' Choice Award inviting you to name a favourite musician, in any genre, who has impressed you over the past year.

Vote online here or return the printed form enclosed in the November issue of Limelight (on sale Wednesday, October 19) to go into the draw to win a Vita Audio digital radio valued at $450. Voting closes Friday, November 18. The winners will be honoured in a ceremony at the Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House on Thursday, December 15.

Best Performance in an opera (new category)Cheryl Barker (soprano), the Marschallin in Der RosenkavalierRachelle Durkin (soprano), Olympia/Giulietta/Antonia in Tales of HoffmannAnthony Dean Griffey (tenor), Lennie in Of Mice and MenEmma Matthews (soprano), Partenope in PartenopeTeddyTahu Rhodes (baritone), Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro